Did not study something from the primary innings

Former India cricketer Mohit Sharma lambasted the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowlers’ poor strategy and adaptability during the five-wicket loss against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side failed to defend a 181-run target at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, on Monday, May 18, to severely hamper their chances of qualifying for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs.

On a slow surface, CSK bowlers had a relatively strong start, confining the explosive opposition top order to just 45 runs in the powerplay. However, they failed to control the middle overs, which was once their forte, as Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen put on 75 runs off 41 deliveries for the third wicket to set up the run chase for the visitors.

SRH eventually scaled the target with an over to spare as CSK lacked a standout bowler to put pressure on the batters. The visitors had the likes of Pat Cummins and Shivang Kumar, who controlled the proceedings, but the five-time winners could not replicate the showing despite putting them into bowl first.

Mohit Sharma slammed the CSK pacers for not using the surface’s slowness to their advantage and relying on yorkers and getting the execution wrong as well.

“Ishan Kishan’s partnership with Heinrich Klaasen was significant in this match. Both of them are big players, but at the same time, I would say that CSK did not learn anything from the first innings, the way with which the CSK bowlers should have followed the plan, the way the surface should have been used, it did not happen,” Mohit Sharma said on Cricbuzz.

“The way SRH used the slower ball, up to 60-65 percent of their deliveries were like that, which was difficult for you guys to play on your home ground. Instead, you are trying to go for yorkers. On a slow wicket, you try to remain on length as much as possible. I understand that yorkers might be your strength, but Mukesh and Anshul are both capable of bowling cutters. If they had bowled according to the surface, they could have made life difficult for SRH batters, and could have turned the match in CSK’s favor,” he continued.

Mukesh Choudhary and Anshul Kamboj conceded 82 runs off their combined eight overs, while picking up three wickets in the process. This marks the latter’s second successive expensive outing on the trot after giving away 63 runs in just 2.4 oevrs during the away loss to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), recently.

“If a bowler like Pat Cummins, who bowls at 150 kmph, can come in and bowl cutters” – Mohit Sharma questions CSK pacers after loss to SRH in IPL 2026

Mohit Sharma, who has a bowling average of 21.63 at the Chepauk and used cutters and the back-of-the-hand deliveries efficiently during his stint with CSK, questioned why the pacers did not observe the SRH bowlers in the first innings.

“This was my type of wicket, and I know what type of variations can be used here. This was such a wicket where your plan should have been simple, you don’t need to think too much at all. So, atleast stick to the plan. It felt weird seeing them go off the plan. If a bowler like Pat Cummins, who bowls at 150 kmph, can come in and bowl cutters, you also have to accept and be proactive,” he said.

CSK have jeopardised their playoffs chances after back-to-back losses in the business end of the league phase. They can now only reach a maximum tally of 14 points with a win over the Gujarat Titans (GT), away from home, which also might not suffice, given there are four more teams still in the hunt for the final spot in the top four.